Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Egypt which will take effect at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday. It follows intensive bombardments by Israel of targets in the Gaza Strip and terrorist-led rocket attacks out of the enclave. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the deal, saying he had agreed after consulting with President Barack Obama. However, Netanyahu warned that more forceful action might be necessary if the ceasefire fails. He said Israel had destroyed thousands of missiles as well as Hamas installations.
The United Nations Security Council said in a statement that it "deplored the loss of civilian lives resulting from this situation and reiterated the need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians and their protection in according with international humanitarian law." It called on the parties to "uphold the agreement and to act seriously to implement its provisions in good faith."
Senior officials of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that they believe Hamas and Islamic Jihad were intending to implement the ceasefire and prevent other terror factions from firing into Israel. However, Defense Minister Ehud Barak clarified that the truce was merely an understanding and not an actual agreement. Israel also made it clear that it would not lift completely its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Seven rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel shortly after the truce came into force, according to Israeli police, but there were no casualties and no sign of an Israeli response. Under the deal, which will be guaranteed by Egypt on the Palestinian side, Israel agreed to "stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip by land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals". In exchange, it committed "all Palestinian factions" to "stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border".
Text of the understanding about a ceasefire
Source: Reuters
1: (no title given for this section)
A. Israel should stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals.
B. All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border.
C. Opening the crossings and facilitating the movements of people and transfer of goods and refraining from restricting residents' free movements and targeting residents in border areas and procedures of implementation shall be dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire.
D. Other matters as may be requested shall be addressed.
2: Implementation mechanisms:
A. Setting up the zero hour for the ceasefire understanding to enter into effect.
B. Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to what was agreed upon.
C. Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach this understanding. In case of any observations Egypt as the sponsor of this understanding shall be informed to follow up.
Israel arrests 55 extremists in West Bank
Meanwhile, the IDF and the secret service Shin Bet said that 55 terror suspects had been arrested in an extensive operation in the West Bank overnight. "In light of recent terrorist and violent activity in Judea and Samaria and as part of the security forces' attempt to restore calm to the area, the decision was made to carry out the arrests," a statement said, adding: "A total of 55 terror operatives who are affiliated with different terror groups have been detained. Among those arrested were a number of senior-level operatives."
Among the detainees were top Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials and members of the Palestinian Legislative Assembly, according to a list of the arrested contained in the statement. Some belong to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Fatah. "The IDF will continue to operate to maintain order in the area and to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Israeli communities," the statement said.
